Maclure of New Harmony: Scientist, Progressive Educator, Radical Philanthropist

Chronology

xi Chronology 1763 Born in Ayr, Scotland, on October 27. 1778 Visits the United States. 1782 Second visit to United States to make business connections; returns to England as a member of a trading company. Extensive travel in Europe during the next decade as a merchant. 1796 Establishes a lumber business in Virginia, settles in Philadelphia, becomes an American citizen; extensive commercial activity in England and the United States that extends into the early 1800s. 1799 Member of the American Philosophical Society (APS). 1800 Extensive travels through Europe as a geologist. 1803 Member of the United States Commission to settle claims of American citizens against the French. 1804 Visits Pestalozzi’s radically progressive school in Yverdon, Switzerland, and realizes that this mode of education is central in the struggle for social reform. Geological exploration of France and Spain. Visits Joseph Neef’s Pestalozzian school in Paris and brings him to Philadelphia. 1808 First Pestalozzian school established in the United States by Neef. Geological studies in the United States. Presents landmark paper at APS on Observations on the Geology of the United States Explanatory for Geological Map. Published in Transactions of the APS. 1809 Maclure publishes Geology of the United States. Extensive travel through Russia, Poland, and Europe until 1815. 1812 Becomes a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP). 1815 Exploration of West Indies with Charles-Alexandre Lesueur. 1816 Settles in Philadelphia and explores the northeastern United States. 1817 Elected president of ANSP. Provides a printing press to publish the Journal of the ANSP. 1818 Sponsors and participates in expedition to Florida and Georgia. Extensive travels through France, Italy, Spain, and Great Britain for seven years. Publishes revised Observations. 1819 Meets Madame Marie Duclos Fretageot. Becomes president of the American Geological Society. 1820 Purchases land in Spain with an intention to settle there and establish industrial and agricultural schools for the poor. 1823 Liberal Spanish government overthrown, and his land confiscated. 1824 Leaves Spain. Visits Robert Owen in New Lanark. 1825 Returns to the United States where he participates in geological explorations with Thomas Say, Charles-Alexandre Lesueur, and others. Joins Owen in his New Harmony venture. Sails down the Ohio River to New Harmony on the Boatload of Knowledge, accompanied by naturalists and teachers from Philadelphia. Establishes manual training and trade schools, a scientific center, and a library in New Harmony. 1826 Winters in New Orleans. 1827 Chaos in New Harmony with collapse of Owen-Maclure “partnership.” Visits Mexico with Thomas Say. 1828 Returns to Mexico, where he resides until his death. Maclure’s schools and affairs in New Harmony managed by Madame Fretageot and Thomas Say until their deaths. 1831 Publishes Opinions. 1833 Madame Fretageot visits Maclure in Mexico; she dies of cholera. 1834 Thomas Say dies in New Harmony. Residing in Mexico, aging, ill, and uncertain about plans for his estate, which he changes frequently. Generously provides the ANSP with money for a new building and his library. 1835 Earmarks the bulk of his estate for the creation and support of free public libraries. 1837 Rejuvenates Working Men’s Institute and library. 1840 Dies at San Angel, Mexico, March 23. xii · Chronology Maclure of New Harmony ...